“You are leaving us, Suleiman?” Haytham asked.
“We have talked to Malek, and that is why, I suspect, he wants us to come and see him in the morning. We agreed that only when my Lady was safe, Max and I would leave,” Talon said.
“But why? Who will lead the chogan team now? Bahir and my master are gone, may God be kind to their souls, and you are the only one left,” Haytham said, his mouth turned down with his distress.
Max and Talon laughed. It seemed to be such an incongruous thing to discuss, given their recent perils, but Talon understood. The boy was desperate to return to a normal life after the disruption they had experienced.
“Haytham, you will lead the future teams on behalf of my lord Kazim, and one day he will assume the role; but you must be a good teacher so that he learns from the best,” he said in a solemn tone.
“I shall not disgrace you, Suleiman, of that you can be sure,” the boy said earnestly.
They went to bed with the night well advanced and the stars a blaze of light in the great black canopy above. The workers had gone to sleep in various parts of the ships, while sentries spoke to one another in low tones. Talon stumbled to bed and fell into an exhausted sleep.
* * * * *
It took a week of hard work to repair the galley and make ready to sail south to the great city of Al Qahirah. Malek’s plan was simple: they would sail in two ships; once there, the Lady Khalidah would be escorted to the palace of the Sultan for her audience by Malek, Panhsj and the soldiers. Talon, Max and the Franks, who had by now been released, would take one galley and ‘escape’ into the Middle Sea.
“I shall be sorry to see you and Max go, Suleiman,” Malek told Talon one day as they were watching the repairs going on all around them. “You have helped us many times. I pray that Allah will guide you and that peace will go with you.”
“I sometimes wonder what Allah has in mind for me, Malek. I will miss you, the children and the Lady Khalidah. She is a woman of great courage and determination. I too pray that Allah will protect her and allow my lord Kazim to become the master of his rightful domains,” Talon responded.
Malek smiled at Talon’s words, then said, business-like, “It should seem that you overpower my men and steal a ship. You should take all the Franks with you, otherwise I suspect that ‘Enry will take them anyway, and I do not want a battle on the wharfs of Al Qahirah harbor.”
Talon grinned at Malek. “You are a wise man, Malek. I shall miss your council. Perhaps we should ensure that we leave at night?”
“You need to know something. There is a city called Damietta along the river further north of Al Qahirah, almost at the entrance to the sea. It is the entrance to the main Nile channel from the Middle Sea and it is your only way out. Although there are other passages to the Middle Sea they are very treacherous, with sand banks and debris that come and go with the summer flood. This is the only stretch of river between Al Qahirah and the sea that is kept open at all times by sultan’s order, for the sake of commerce. However, you must also deal with the chain.”
“What chain is this, Malek?” Talon asked, his heart sinking.
“There the people of Damiate have placed a huge chain across the river where they have narrowed it. Those people exact a toll from ships coming into the river to go to Al Qahirah. The chain is also to prevent invader fleets from gaining access to the river. The Frans tried to come up the river past Damiate some six years ago. The chain helped to contain them and the sultan defeated them. He decided to reinforce the towers so that now they are almost impregnable. You will need to use all your cunning to get by. I fear that it is raised at night to prevent pirates from sailing in under cover of darkness.”
Talon thanked him and went off, deep in thought at yet another obstacle to their freedom. If they were caught they were right back where they had started more than a year ago. He didn’t tell the other Franks what he had heard. That would have to come later. It was a daunting prospect to think they might still be trapped in Egypt, despite everything they had been through. This left him worried.
His contact with the Lady Khalidah and the children had lessened. He spent his time with Max and Henry to repair the crippled ship and prepare for their journey. He did not think it wise to tarry at the estate.
He was reluctant to go there more than he had to and knew it was from a sense of guilt. The temptation to stay and live out his life here in the Fayoum was strong. Images of the lake and the vast fields of crops and the quiet of the region haunted him. It would be a calm, pleasant life and he could probably be almost as a member of the family. The thought of pressing Max to depart with the Franks and leave him behind crossed his mind more than once.
Max and Henry at first attempted to draw him out of his thoughts, but then they left him to work it out. He had to face his future and there were hard choices to be made; it did not improve his mood.
The day they planned to sail finally dawned. Talon stood on the deck of the ship that would take Khalidah and the children north to Al Qahirah, while Max and Henry waited on the other ship. Almost before the sun had risen, Malek, with a strong escort of soldiers, brought Khalidah and the children with him to the harbor and they were helped on board.
They cast off and rowed into the middle of the great river followed by the second galley now being rowed by freed men. They soon hauled in the oars and set sail with a good wind behind them. It took all day for them to sail north, but by evening they saw the tall spires of the city mosques in the distance. As the miles shortened to their destination, the number of the sailing boats increased and soon the water appeared to have white crests on it from the traffic of the small boats plying to and fro.
Talon had been summoned to the cabin by Khalidah during the trip. Dreading the encounter, he slowly made his way towards the rear of the ship, nodded to Malek on the top deck, and entered the cabin, pushing aside the light curtains across the door.
Khalidah stood alone in the middle of the cabin, waiting. The boat rocked a little as it sped down the river but other than the slight creaking of the wood and the murmur of voices above, it was quiet.
“You asked to see me, my Lady?” Talon said with a low bow.
She lifted her head and stared at him.
“It is time and you must leave us?” It was more of a statement than a question.
“Yes…I must leave you, my Lady, but hear me first. This I have to tell you.”
She nodded in silence, and he continued.
“The sultan is still in grave danger, both from the Assassins from the region north of the Fran Kingdom, where they are governed by the man known as Sinan Rashid Ed Din, and for all I know from the Master, the Agha Khan from Persia himself. The sultan must protect himself. These people seek his death.”
“How do you know these things?” she asked.
“Because I am one of them.”
She gasped and placed a hand on her heart. He made to step forward, afraid she might fall. “All this time? You are one of them?” She whispered, fear in her voice.
“I did not come as one, although Khaldun somehow knew what I am, even though I did not tell him. But now I have to tell you. I was captured by the assassins of Persia. I am what I am because of them, but now we are mortal enemies, at least with Sinan, because of what I have done to protect you.”
She had been veiled when he came in but now she let her veil drop and he saw that her eyes were red rimmed and she looked exhausted. It was clear she had been crying.
“My Lady, what is it?” he asked with concern.
“Do you not understand what it is that ails me, Suleiman? I do not care what they made you. I care what you are now,” she said. There was a tremor in her voice that cut to his soul.
“My Lady,” he whispered. “It cannot be…it cannot be.” He could not go on, his words caught in his throat.
She came into his arms then and he held her as though to crush her.
“Do you have to leave me? Do you not wish to live here? What wi
ll persuade you to stay?” She groaned into his shoulder.
There were tears in his eyes now. “You know how much I wish to stay! But you know too, I have to leave…I…I cannot stay for many reasons, but I leave a part of my heart with you, my Lady.”
“You take all of my heart with you, Suleiman! It is so cruel that Allah should have done this to me just when I have regained most of what I thought I had lost. I mourn the loss of my husband, but I shall be lost when you leave.”
“You have regained your honor and your family rights, my Lady. Your son, for whom you have fought, will one day be a great lord and you will find peace in that. I am a commoner and cannot take the place of your husband,” he said, trying to keep the tremor out of his voice.
“I would that you could… Ah, Suleiman, what am I to do?” she whispered as tears flowed.
“We both know it cannot be,” he said, “as it is one thing to be the tutor of your son but quite another to be your lover and his step-father. I cannot do that to him nor be the cause of the trouble that it would bring to you,” Talon said into her hair. He breathed her clean scent and wondered what he was doing holding this beautiful, noble lady in his arms. He released her and stood back trying desperately to control his emotions. He needed to leave the cabin without giving away anything to those outside.
She too stood back and replaced her veil. It was a resigned gesture and seemed final.
“Then that is as Allah wishes it. I cannot stop what is ordained. I bid you farewell. Suleiman, please leave me now. I must prepare for my audience with the Sultan.” She turned away as though a sleep walker.
Talon hesitated, but then collected himself and whispered, “I shall not forget you, my Lady. I pray Allah will protect you and your children for all time. Peace be with you, Khalidah.”
“Peace be with you, Suleiman, and go with my love,” she whispered as he left.
* * * * *
They docked in the bustling port of Al Qahirah just as the sun was beginning to set. The sultan, alerted of their late arrival, had offered to give Lady Khalidah hospitality and an audience the following morning. Malek was in a hurry to disembark, as they still had a mile or so to travel to the palace of the sultan and, as he told Talon, he did not want the added worry of trouble in the darkening streets of this crowded city full of cutthroats.
As the ship came closer to the piers they said their farewells, and Malek and Panhsj had tears in their eyes. They embraced Talon. He too felt strong emotions flood over him and he embraced them back equally hard.
“Allah protect you. Go in peace,” they said to one another.
“We have been comrades in battle and we have won. Now we shall sorely miss you, my friend,” Panhsj grunted. His face was twisted into a ferocious expression as he tried to control his emotions. Talon embraced him and slapped him on his back hard and tried to keep from weeping.
It was even worse to say good bye to the children, who both came running into Talon’s arms. He stood holding them tight to him. They wept and begged him to stay. They did not know how he was to leave, simply that he would not be accompanying them to the city and this would be the last time they would see him.
He finally released them and gently wiped the tears from Jasmine’s cheeks with his thumb.
“I go because I have no choice, my princess,” he said softly. “Had I a choice, I would stay. Look after your mother and learn much, my Jasmine. I shall miss you.”
She nodded in mute acknowledgement. “Allah go with you, Suleiman.” She cried and ran back into the cabin to join her mother. Khalidah had not emerged.
Kazim stood in front of Talon, his feet planted apart, trying to hold back his tears and behave like a man. He was aware that Panhsj was nearby, although that man was staring into the distance pretending not to notice.
“I shall…I shall miss you, Suleiman. Will you write to me one day and tell me where you have gone?” he asked in a low voice.
Talon reached for the boy and held him close. “Indeed I shall do that, my Prince. Allah protect you and may he guide you in all things. Listen to Panhsj and Malek, for they are good men and will help you become a great lord, and always protect and respect your mother and your sister. Peace be with you.”
“Peace be with you, and Allah protect, Suleiman,” the boy said in a muffled voice.
Wake! For the Sun behind yon Eastern height
Has chased the Session of the Stars from Night;
And, to the field of Heav’n ascending, strikes
The Sultan’s Turret with a shaft of light.
— Omar Khayyam
Chapter 30
Towers of Damietta
Talon was rowed across the water to the other galley where he was greeted by a somber Max. “It is often hard to say goodbye,” he said briefly, pretending not to notice Talon’s strained face as he helped him onto the deck. Talon nodded in mute agreement, then turned to Henry.
“Malek said we must wait until they have gone into town and then come close to their ship and take with us the Franks and other North men rowing for him. The black men will stay with Panhsj. Malek said he would find replacements for his rowers easily enough when he needs them.”
“Of that I have no doubt,” Max said in a dry tone. “There are slaves enough on the wharfs.”
They watched as Khalidah and her party went to shore and disappeared into the warren of streets. Once it was dark, Henry called hushed orders to the rowers and eased their galley alongside the other. The three guards remaining on Malek’s galley who had not been alerted to this maneuver watched curiously as the two ships bumped against one another. They did not suspect anything when Talon and Max came aboard with a few other men. They were overpowered without injury and placed in the rear cabin, trussed up and gagged. The men waiting below hurried up and clambered over the side onto the other ship. This was done quietly, with little notice. Even so, a curious official called over from the quayside asking if everything was alright, and what were they doing?
“We are transferring slaves,” Talon called back. “Nothing to worry about. Go in peace.”
“Peace be with you too,” he replied and went on with his night vigil.
They pushed off into the darkness and silently rowed the galley back into the middle of the river. There was a light mist on the water that they found useful to disguise their passage past the great watch towers that guarded the city walls overlooking the river. No one called from the other galleys anchored in the harbor as they slipped past, nor were there alarms. They set sail and moved cautiously downstream.
Talon held a quiet conference with Henry and Max. There were two other men with them.
“This man is Guy,” Henry said, indicating the larger form in the dark with his thumb, “and this is Nigel. They were with me when we were captured.”
Talon and Max grunted greetings. It was time to tell them of the perilous run to come.
They were dismayed by the news. “Why did we not know of this before?” Henry exclaimed.
“Would it have made any difference?” Max asked, sounding mildly irritated. He slapped his thigh. “There are endless difficulties with this country,” he growled to no one in particular.
“Malek told me of this to warn us. We are now fugitives again, and if those crew men get free, pursuit will be sooner rather than later. Our problem is to get past the towers and well out to sea before anyone knows we are running,” Talon said.
“How far do we have to go before we come to this Damietta place?” Nigel asked.
“It is almost at the entrance of the great river and a good six hours sailing, perhaps more.”
“Then we will be there in the dawn hours. That might be good. The sentries are always sleepy at that time and less alert,” Guy said.
“Lord protect us, but we know neither the river features, nor what to expect around any corner. It could take us all night, so we might well be there in daylight. Is there no other route?” Henry asked. He slapped his arms around his chest in an ag
itated manner.
“Malek said the river was very dangerous along any other avenue, although there are many. If we get stuck on a sandbank in the dark, we are lost. He said we would be well advised to stay on the main river and try to slip through Damietta, rather than risk an alternative route. There are pirates in the side streams.”
“We are more than a match for pirates with this many men on board,” Guy said scornfully and waved his hand about at the crowded decks full of armed men.
“It is not the pirates we have to fear, Guy,” Talon said patiently, “but the sultan’s navy who also patrol these streams looking for the pirates. How do you think they would react if they came upon us stuck in the mud somewhere?” he demanded.
There was a long silence as the men considered this.
Henry sighed. “You have not led us amiss before, Suleiman or is it now Talon? We will do as you bid and try for the open sea through Damietta. God protect us. I had thought our troubles were behind us and we could just sail away.”
“It is Talon de Gilles, and I had hoped for the same, Henry, but it is not to be. Yes, we must make haste, even in the dark. Time is not on our side.”
The long ship glided silently downstream, close to the middle of the river. Lookouts in the bows on both sides called low warnings if they saw anything that looked like an obstacle. Most of these were other boats that were doing the same as they: driving down the middle of the river hoping to avoid sandbanks and other small islands that surfaced from the deep water. When they came too close to another boat they remained silent, even when others called across the water to them. Their size and deadly shape and the silence of the men aboard might have seemed menacing to others on the river that night, because the calls were few.
* * * * *
It was many hours later that Henry estimated they might be close to Damietta. “I can smell the salt. Even below decks I could always tell when we were coming to the sea,” he claimed in a low voice.
Assassination in Al Qahira Page 42